Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-09-10

In assuming that such will be
Henry Georges reply, we trust that
we do not misrepresent him. We
have simply summarized in few
words what he has repeatedly stated
in every form of language. In his
opinion, all the terrible evils of
which Labor justly complains spring
not from the wage-system, but from
the individual appropriation of land
values. Let these values be taxed
for the public benefit, and presto
subito. Labor will have free access
to land, although the present owners
are not to be disturbed in their title
and occupancy. AS land is 'Me
original means of production" Labor
naked Labor, mark it well !! de-
prived of tools, machinery and sup
plies-can do everything with it.
The wage-system will then become
blessing, for no one will sell his ex-
ertions to an employer for less than
he can get by employing himself on
the land. (By the way, has anyone
asked Mr.. George if the laborer
would not have still less induce
ments to employ himself on the land
under a system which unduly gives
the land-owning class alone the full
benefit of the unearned increment?)
OF course, Mr.. George would not
think for a moment of appropriating
any portion of the land tax to the
purchase of tools, machinery and
supplies for those who might desire
to employ themselves on the land"
for this would conflict more glaringly
with his conception Of American
government and individualism.
Let us then suppose that the
George system is in full operation.
The unlmproved land is accessible
to all who will pay the Government
a rental for it, according to it's value
this value to be determined by the
most perfect methods that Henry
George can suggest. Here is sec
ton, one mile square, of equal pro-
ductive capacity all over, and divi-
ded by a railroad into two tracts Of
800 acres each. The public rental,
or tax, is 81 per acre. John Speck,
who has $4,000 and can buy the
best of tools, machinery and cattle,
takes the tract; while Turnsod,
Shoveler, Workaway and Proletarius
who work together will not own a
dime after paying the tax and buy
ing each spade, yet trust implicitly
in Henry Georges anti-poverty cure
take the other tract, which they
divide among themselves into four
equal parts.
After year of hard work, John
Speck and his neighbors compare
results. The first, with his machin-
cry, has cultivated the whole of his
farm and garnered good crop.
Turnsod, with his spade, and his
friends likewise, have not titled
quarter of their respective land.
John Speck, in friendly way, says
to his nelghbors: "Why should you
persist in holding land on which you
make such a poor living, although
the tax is only one dollar? Next
year you will be worse off if the tax
is raised. With my machinery and
two of you-say, Turnsod and Shov-
eler-to run it on wages, the whole
section can be titled handsomely, and
| shall have a little rest, which |
need badly. Let me have this land.
Don't bid against me. You can
earn more in working for me than
you can in employing yourselves"
"And what will become of us?" in
quire Workaway and Proletarius.
"Well, it has already occurred to
me-" answers John Speck, "that this
shanty of mine over yonder, good
enough as it it is for wage workers,
servants and such like, is no longer
a tit residence for man of my sort.
Thanks to my good crop, for which
am indebted to my machinery, |
can afford a better house. You are
fair mechanics and can build it.
This will employ You for some time
to come. Later on we shall see."
Another year is past. John
Speck has his square mile under
cultivation. The land tax has re-